Windows 8 to support 291DPI displays

Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 operating system will be the company’s first crack at the tablet market and judging by one of its blogs, ultra high-res tablets will be supported.

Microsoft envisions 10.1-inch tablets in 1366x768, 1920x1080 and even 2560x1440, which translates to 291DPI. We should see the same resolutions on 11.6-inch tablets, albeit resulting in a slightly lower DPI count. Interestingly, Microsoft lists another form factor, a 17-inch unit in 1920x1080. We are not sure what to make of it, as it sounds more like a portable smart TV than a tablet.

Unlike Apple and Google, Microsoft is gunning for 16:9 resolutions, which will obviously result in different form factors. Meanwhile Apple is still sticking with 4:3, which might not be the best choice for video playback, but it also makes a bit more sense due to ergonomic considerations.

The minimum resolution for Windows 8 tablets is set at 1024x768 and Microsoft sees no point in supporting anything less.